THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. -- Thirteen people including a sheriff's deputy and the gunman were killed in a shooting in a crowded bar here late Wednesday night, reports CBS Los Angeles. The shooter was found dead inside, authorities said.
The station said one person was seen -- apparently lifeless -- on the ground outside the bar's entrance.
Ventura County Sheriff Geoff Dean told reporters early Thursday his colleague died at a hospital. He was identified as Sheriff's Sgt. Ron Helus, a 29-year veteran about a year from retiring.
His voice cracking, Dean described Helus as a friend. "I told his wife he died a hero -- he went in to save lives," Dean said. Helus is survived by a wife and son.

Dean said, "It's a horrific scene in there. There's blood everywhere."
He said the gunman had apparently shot himself.
Dean added that the shooter's motive wasn't known and it wasn't clear if it was a case of terrorism.
He said the only weapon found in an initial sweep was a handgun. Witnesses said the shots sounded like they were coming from a semi-automatic weapon.
In addition to those who died, injured or wounded patrons were brought to hospitals or went to them on their own.
Ventura County Sheriff's deputies responded to the Borderline Bar and Grill, some 40 miles west of L.A., at about 11:20 p.m.
Sheriff's Capt. Garo Kuredjian said deputies could hear gunfire when they arrived.
Helus raced in and was shot numerous times, Dean said.
There were roughly 200 people in the bar for a popular weekly "College Country" night, authorities said.
The gunman threw smoke bombs when he entered, perhaps to cause confusion, CBS L.A. reported. But Dean said the bomb squad was called in and found no devices.Witnesses told the station some people broke windows to get out or smashed windows so others could flee. Some terrified customers hid in bathrooms and attics, Dean said.

The father of one patron told CBS L.A. his daughter told him the gunman "knew what he was doing" and came in "with a purpose."
A witness told the station, "There were people in the middle dancing and just hanging out and having a good time" when "very, very loud gunshots" rang out inside.
Numerous law enforcement agencies were on-scene, including the FBI and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. National Guard members were assisting, as well.
Patrons were seen being led out of the bar by deputies.

I was just about to post this, only because this one hits close to home. My wife went to this bar all the time when she lived in California, and I went with her twice while vacationing there. It's not really just a country bar, they have a lot of rock acts there too.

The most random places are getting hit, between Muslim terrorists and white nationalists, from the Bataclan to Borderline, that even though I know the law of averages is heavily against me being involved, it's a lot more possible today than it was a decade ago. These are the EXACT types of venues I go to all the time.

For one large group of people at a Southern California bar where a gunman killed 12 people Wednesday night, it was their second narrow escape from a mass shooting. One man said he and others inside the Borderline Bar and Grill in Thousand Oaks also survived the shooting that killed 58 people and injured nearly 500 others at a country music concert in Las Vegas last October.

Nicholas Champion said he and many others in the bar were also at the Las Vegas Route 91 shooting.

"It's the second time in about a year and a month that this has happened," he said. "It's a big thing for us. We're all a big family and unfortunately this family got hit twice."

More than 100 people were inside the bar during the shooting, including many college students who were there to celebrate "College Country Night."

Police said they found the shooter dead inside, possibly from a self-inflicted wound. Ventura County Sheriff Geoff Dean told reporters early Thursday, "It's a horrific scene in there. There's blood everywhere."

Among the victims is 29-year veteran deputy Ron Helus. Helus was among the first responders and was shot while entering the building where the shooting was taking place. He died at the hospital Thursday morning.

So far, there is no known motive for the attack.

____________________"22 years of my fucking life just got fucking ruined!!!!"---Fan outside Wrestlemania XXX

yes. thoughts and prayers people! its too early and not the time to talk about gun control yadda yadda yadda. and it was not a member of that horrible caravan heading to America. will be looking forward to what Don Lemon has to say tonight....

Ron Helus, 54, a sergeant in the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office, was among the first to respond to the shooting, heading into the bar as the bullets flew. The veteran officer, who was married with an adult son, had been on the force 29 years and planned to retire within the next year.

Helus also owned a firearms training business.

“When he heard the gunfire, he ran in. He ran in and no doubt saved others,” Ventura County Sheriff’s Capt. Garo Kuredjian told CNN afterward. “That’s what cops do. That’s what he did.”

Ultimark wrote: Ron Helus, 54, a sergeant in the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office, was among the first to respond to the shooting, heading into the bar as the bullets flew. The veteran officer, who was married with an adult son, had been on the force 29 years and planned to retire within the next year.

Helus also owned a firearms training business.

“When he heard the gunfire, he ran in. He ran in and no doubt saved others,” Ventura County Sheriff’s Capt. Garo Kuredjian told CNN afterward. “That’s what cops do. That’s what he did.”Some here think being armed in every setting will prevent tragedy. It will not. Ron Helus was exceptionally well trained, better than 99.8% of Americans. Yet, the person intent on committing the act ALWAYS has an advantage. No doubt, Helus knew that. A true hero. A normal civilian really has no chance unless it is a one on one, up close situation.
I love the chickenhawks who pretend to be the type that would save the day. The vast majority of them would instantly shit their pants and shoot either themselves in the leg or another innocent person.

Ultimark wrote: Ultimark wrote: Ron Helus, 54, a sergeant in the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office, was among the first to respond to the shooting, heading into the bar as the bullets flew. The veteran officer, who was married with an adult son, had been on the force 29 years and planned to retire within the next year.

Helus also owned a firearms training business.

“When he heard the gunfire, he ran in. He ran in and no doubt saved others,” Ventura County Sheriff’s Capt. Garo Kuredjian told CNN afterward. “That’s what cops do. That’s what he did.”Some here think being armed in every setting will prevent tragedy. It will not. Ron Helus was exceptionally well trained, better than 99.8% of Americans. Yet, the person intent on committing the act ALWAYS has an advantage. No doubt, Helus knew that. A true hero. A normal civilian really has no chance unless it is a one on one, up close situation.
I love the chickenhawks who pretend to be the type that would save the day. The vast majority of them would instantly shit their pants and shoot either themselves in the leg or another innocent person.
In fairness, when you're running into a situation where you don't know what's going on and the shooter has already established position, and the shooter happens to be a Marine with smoke bombs and what I'm guessing is significant weapons training, this is by no means the best example to use. I do think in the chaos it's possible for a number of armed patrons to have taken him out because of the law of averages. Lots of people said they got a clear view of him and were playing dead or something, and he can't look everywhere ta once. That said, I'll never blindly discount the fact that many people will panic and could shoot themselves or an innocent person accidentally. And the ones who post the most memes on Facebook will never draw their weapon and will just knock women out of the way while running.

srossi wrote: Ultimark wrote: Ultimark wrote: Ron Helus, 54, a sergeant in the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office, was among the first to respond to the shooting, heading into the bar as the bullets flew. The veteran officer, who was married with an adult son, had been on the force 29 years and planned to retire within the next year.

Helus also owned a firearms training business.

“When he heard the gunfire, he ran in. He ran in and no doubt saved others,” Ventura County Sheriff’s Capt. Garo Kuredjian told CNN afterward. “That’s what cops do. That’s what he did.”Some here think being armed in every setting will prevent tragedy. It will not. Ron Helus was exceptionally well trained, better than 99.8% of Americans. Yet, the person intent on committing the act ALWAYS has an advantage. No doubt, Helus knew that. A true hero. A normal civilian really has no chance unless it is a one on one, up close situation.
I love the chickenhawks who pretend to be the type that would save the day. The vast majority of them would instantly shit their pants and shoot either themselves in the leg or another innocent person.
In fairness, when you're running into a situation where you don't know what's going on and the shooter has already established position, and the shooter happens to be a Marine with smoke bombs and what I'm guessing is significant weapons training, this is by no means the best example to use. I do think in the chaos it's possible for a number of armed patrons to have taken him out because of the law of averages. Lots of people said they got a clear view of him and were playing dead or something, and he can't look everywhere ta once. That said, I'll never blindly discount the fact that many people will panic and could shoot themselves or an innocent person accidentally. And the ones who post the most memes on Facebook will never draw their weapon and will just knock women out of the way while running.Good point. The murderer was very well trained. Yea, they would run like George Constanza from a kid's birthday party.

Spatulapup wrote: yes. thoughts and prayers people! its too early and not the time to talk about gun control yadda yadda yadda. and it was not a member of that horrible caravan heading to America. will be looking forward to what Don Lemon has to say tonight....

lobo316 wrote: Spatulapup wrote: yes. thoughts and prayers people! its too early and not the time to talk about gun control yadda yadda yadda. and it was not a member of that horrible caravan heading to America. will be looking forward to what Don Lemon has to say tonight....

no more thoughts, no more prayers

That leads right into "now is not the time". They have been using that line for 10 years now.